Orally bioavailable lipid-based constructs

ABSTRACT

The present invention is embodied by a composition capable of chaperoning a typically non-orally available therapeutic or diagnostic agent through the environment of the digestive tract such that the therapeutic or diagnostic agent is bioavailable. The composition may or may not be targeted to specific cellular receptors, such as hepatocytes. Therapeutic agents include, but are not limited to, insulin, calcitonin, serotonin, and other proteins. Targeting is accomplished with biotin or metal based targeting agents.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of, and claims priority to,U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/592,205, filed Jan. 8, 2015, nowissued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,568,835, which is a continuation of, andclaims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/904,937, filedSep. 28, 2007, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,962,015, all of whichapplications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One of the most preferred ways to deliver a pharmaceutical to a subjectis in an oral formulation. However, oral formulations of manypharmaceutical compounds are often unavailable due to thepharmaceutical's incompatibility with the harsh environment of thedigestive tract. This is particularly true for pharmaceutical compoundssuch as peptides, proteins, certain small molecules, and nucleic acids.

An oral formulation of a protein such as insulin would be highlydesirable. Present strategies to normalize blood glucose levels in TypeI and Type II diabetic patients utilize subcutaneous administration ofinsulin in various time-released formulations, such as ultralente andhumulin NPH insulin. Use of these formulations delay and subsequentlycontrol the bio-distribution of insulin by regulating release of thedrug to tissues. Sustained management of insulin leads to better glucosecontrol and the need for fewer injections over the course of thedisease. Unfortunately, multiple painful injections are still requiredbecause these formulations fail to provide sustained levels of insulinin the subject suffering from diabetes.

Many other important drugs are also not presently available in oralformulations. Examples include calcitonin, serotonin, parathyroidhormone, GLP-1, erythropoietin, interferon of various types, humangrowth hormone, and monoclonal antibodies, the utilities of which havebeen extensively reviewed in the literature.

What is needed in the field of oral drug delivery is a composition thatenables oral delivery of a wide range of pharmaceutical products. Thepresent invention meets and addresses this need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes compositions that facilitate and/orenable absorption of therapeutics which are not typically orallybioavailable. In one embodiment, a composition of the inventionfunctions by associating with a therapeutic agent and chaperoning thetherapeutic agent through the lumen of the gut into the portal bloodflow and finally on to the systemic circulation. In certain embodiments,the composition of the invention possess many unique and advantageousproperties. One of these properties is the ability to insert intointercellular gaps and pass through the mammalian gut into the portalcirculation. In certain embodiments, a composition of the invention maybe targeted to specific cellular or extra-cellular receptors via one ormore targeting agents.

In a typical embodiment, an orally bioavailable composition of theinvention comprises gelatin and additional constituents. The additionalconstituents comprise a dynamically sized liposome, liposome fragment,and lipid particle, wherein the lipid particle comprises at least onelipid component and the liposome or liposome fragment comprise at leasttwo lipid components. The composition further comprises at least onetherapeutic or diagnostic agent and, optionally, at least one targetingagent. Preferably, the gelatin actively reversibly interacts with one ormore of the constituents.

In certain embodiments, the lipid components are selected from the groupconsisting of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine,1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, cholesterol, cholesterololeate, dihexadecyl phosphate, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(succinyl),1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)](sodium salt),and triethylammonium 2,3-diacetoxypropyl2-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)ethyl phosphate.

In certain embodiments, the therapeutic agent is a cellular metabolicregulator.

In certain embodiments, the targeting agent comprises a metal-derivedtargeting agent or a biotin-derived targeting agent.

In one sub-embodiment, the metal-derived targeting agent comprises ametal and at least one complexing agent. Preferably, the metal in themetal-derived targeting agent is selected from the group consisting of atransition metal, an inner transition metal and a neighbor of thetransition metal, and, the at least one complexing agent is selectedfrom the group consisting of:

-   -   N-(2,6-diisopropylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(2,6-diethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(2,6-dimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(4-isopropylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(4-butylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(2,3-dimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(2,4-dimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(2,5-dimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(3,4-dimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(3-butylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(2-butylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(4-tertiary butylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(3-butoxyphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(2-hexyloxyphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(4-hexyloxyphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;        aminopyrrol iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(3-bromo-2,4,6-trimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic        acid;    -   benzimidazole methyl iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(3-cyano-4,5-dimethyl-2-pyrrylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic        acid;    -   N-(3-cyano-4-methyl-5-benzyl-2-pyrrylcarbamoylmethyl)        iminodiacetic acid; and    -   N-(3-cyano-4-methyl-2-pyrrylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid.

In an embodiment, the metal is chromium.

In an another embodiment of the invention, the metal-derived targetingagent is poly[Cr-bis(N-2,6-diisopropylphenylcarbamoylmethyliminodiacetic acid)].

In still another embodiment, the targeting agent is a biotin-derivedtargeting agent selected from the group consisting ofN-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) biotin; sulfo-NHS-biotin;N-hydroxysuccinimide long chain biotin; sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide longchain biotin; D-biotin; biocytin; sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide-S-S-biotin;biotin-BMCC; biotin-HPDP; iodoacetyl-LC-biotin; biotin-hydrazide;biotin-LC-hydrazide; biocytin hydrazide; biotin cadaverine;carboxybiotin; photobiotin; ρ-aminobenzoyl biocytin trifluoroacetate;ρ-diazobenzoyl biocytin; biotin DHPE; biotin-X-DHPE;12-((biotinyl)amino)dodecanoic acid; 12-((biotinyl)amino)dodecanoic acidsuccinimidyl ester; S-biotinyl homocysteine; biocytin-X; biocytinx-hydrazide; biotinethylenediamine; biotin-XL; biotin-X-ethylenediamine;biotin-XX hydrazide; biotin-XX-SE; biotin-XX, SSE; biotin-X-cadaverine;α-(t-BOC)biocytin; N-(biotinyl)-N′-(iodoacetyl) ethylenediamine;DNP-X-biocytin-X-SE; biotin-X-hydrazide; norbiotinamine hydrochloride;3-(N-maleimidylpropionyl)biocytin; ARP; biotin-1-sulfoxide; biotinmethyl ester; biotin-maleimide; biotin-poly(ethyleneglycol)amine; (+)biotin 4-amidobenzoic acid sodium salt; Biotin2-N-acetylamino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside;Biotin-α-D-N-acetylneuraminide; Biotin-α-L-fucoside; Biotinlacto-N-bioside; Biotin-Lewis-A trisaccharide; Biotin-Lewis-Ytetrasaccharide; Biotin-α-D-mannopyranoside; biotin6-O-phospho-α-D-mannopyranoside; and1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(biotinyl),iminobiotin derivatives of the aforementioned compounds, and mixturesthereof.

In another sub-embodiment of the invention, the targeting agent ispoly[Cr-bis(N-2,6-diisopropylphenylcarbamoylmethyl iminodiacetic acid)]and the therapeutic agent is insulin.

In still another sub-embodiment, the targeting agent is biotin DHPE orbiotin-X-DHPE and the therapeutic agent is insulin.

The present invention also describes a method of making an orallybioavailable composition comprising gelatin and additional constituents,where the constituents comprise a dynamically sized liposome, liposomefragment, and a particle, wherein the liposome, liposome fragment, andparticle are generated from a mixture of lipid components, thecomposition further comprising at least one therapeutic or diagnosticagent and, optionally, at least one targeting agent, wherein the gelatinactively reversibly interacts with one or more of the constituents. Themethod comprises the steps of mixing the lipid components and,optionally, the at least one targeting agent in aqueous media to form afirst mixture; adding the therapeutic or diagnostic agent to the firstmixture to form a second mixture; adding the second mixture to gelatinto form a gelatin-associated mixture; and drying the gelatin-associatedmixture.

In a sub-embodiment of the method, the lipid components are selectedfrom the group consisting of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocoline,1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, cholesterol, cholesterololeate, dihexadecyl phosphate, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(succinyl),1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (sodium salt),and triethylammonium 2,3-diacetoxypropyl2-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)ethyl phosphate; and when present, the optional targetingagent is a metal-derived targeting agent or a biotin-derived targetingagent; and the therapeutic agent is a cellular metabolic regulator.

In another sub-embodiment of the method of making the orallybioavailable composition of the invention, the metal-derived targetingagent is poly[Cr-bis(N-2,6-diisopropylphenylcarbamoylmethyliminodiacetic acid)].

In another sub-embodiment of the method of making the orallybioavailable composition of the invention, the biotin derived targetingagent is selected from the group consisting of biotin DHPE andbiotin-X-DHPE.

According to another sub-embodiment of the invention, the cellularmetabolic regulator is insulin.

The present invention also contemplates a method of treating a diseasein a human, the method comprising administering to the human an orallybioavailable composition comprising gelatin and additional constituents,where the constituents comprise a dynamically sized liposome, liposomefragment, and lipid particle, and where the lipid particle comprises atleast one lipid component and the liposome or liposome fragmentcomprises at least two lipid components, and where the compositionfurther comprises at least one therapeutic agent and, optionally, atleast one targeting agent, wherein the gelatin actively reversiblyinteracts with one or more of the constituents.

In a sub-embodiment of the method for treating disease, the disease isdiabetes; the lipid components are selected from the group consisting of1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine,1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, cholesterol, cholesterololeate, dihexadecyl phosphate, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(succinyl),1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (sodium salt),and triethylammonium 2,3-diacetoxypropyl2-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)ethyl phosphate; the at least one or more therapeutic agentsis a cellular metabolic regulator; and when present, the optionaltargeting agent is a metal-derived targeting agent or a biotin-derivedtargeting agent.

In a further sub-embodiment, the cellular metabolic regulator isinsulin.

In still another sub-embodiment, wherein the targeting agent is notoptional, the targeting agent is ispoly[Cr-bis(N-2,6-diisopropylphenylcarbamoylmethyl iminodiacetic acid)],biotin DHPE, or biotin-X-DHPE.

In a preferred embodiment of the composition, the lipid components are1,2 distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, dihexadecyl phosphate, andcholesterol; the targeting agent is not optional and ispoly[Cr-bis(N-2,6-diisopropylphenylcarbamoylmethyl iminodiacetic acid)];and the therapeutic agent is insulin.

In another preferred embodiment, the lipid components are 1,2distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, dihexadecyl phosphate, andcholesterol; the targeting agent is not optional and is biotin-X-DHPE orbiotin DHPE; and the therapeutic agent is insulin.

In a preferred embodidment of a method of the invention, the lipidcomponents are 1,2 distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, dihexadecylphosphate, and cholesterol; the targeting agent is not optional and ispoly[Cr-bis(N-2,6-diisopropylphenylcarbamoylmethyl iminodiacetic acid)];and the therapeutic agent is insulin.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the lipid componentsare 1,2 distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, dihexadecyl phosphate,and cholesterol; the targeting agent is not optional and isbiotin-X-DHPE or Biotin DHPE; and the therapeutic agent is insulin.

In another aspect of the invention, a composition of the invention maybe made by a method comprising the steps of a) mixing at least threelipid components and, optionally, at least one targeting agent inaqueous media to form a first mixture wherein the lipid components areselected from the group consisting1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine,1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, cholesterol, cholesterololeate, dihexadecyl phosphate, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(succinyl),1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (sodium salt),and triethylammonium 2,3-diacetoxypropyl2-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)ethyl phosphate; b) subjecting the mixture to homogenizationto form a mixture of liposomes, liposome fragments, and particles; c)adding a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to the mixture of liposomes,liposome fragments, and particles to create a second mixture; c) addingthe second mixture to gelatin to form a gelatin-associated mixture, and;d) drying said gelatin-associated mixture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood whenread in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodimentswhich are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, thatthe invention is not limited to the precise arrangements andinstrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a composition of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph depicting the counts of ¹⁴C radio-labeled phospholipidfound in the femoral and portal veins 15 and 30 minutes post injectingradio-labeled composition into the duodenum of a fasted and anesthetized230 gram rat.

FIG. 3 is a bar graph depicting the distribution of ¹⁴C radio-labeledphospholipid amongst the blood, liver, and spleen in the rats of FIG. 2, post-sacrifice.

FIG. 4 is a graph depicting the absorption of radio-labeled compositionfrom drinking water at 15, 30, and 45 minutes post-dosing.

FIG. 5 is a bar graph depicting the distribution of the labeledcomposition amongst the blood, liver, and spleen in the rats of FIG. 4 ,post-sacrifice.

FIG. 6 is a graph depicting the efficacy of orally administered insulinin the form of a composition of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a bar graph depicting the efficacy of a composition of theinvention (at low dosages), in converting a type 2 diabetic dog fromhepatic glucose output to uptake during a portal glucose load.

FIG. 8 is a plot of blood calcium levels after the administration of anon-targeted composition of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a graph of the size distribution of the constituent members ofa composition of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a graph of the efficacy of a composition of the inventioncomprising a biotin targeting agent and insulin at reducing the effectsof type 2 diabetes in humans.

FIG. 11 is a chromatogram of a composition of the invention showing theefficacy of insulin loading.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Definitions

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereingenerally have the same meaning as commonly understood by one ofordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs. Generally, thenomenclature used herein and the laboratory procedures in organicchemistry and protein chemistry are those well known and commonlyemployed in the art.

The articles “a” and “an” are used herein to refer to one or to morethan one (i.e. to at least one) of the grammatical object of thearticle. By way of example, “an element” means one element or more thanone element.

As used herein, amino acids are represented by the full name thereof, bythe three-letter code as well as the one-letter code correspondingthereto, as indicated in the following table:

3 Letter 1-Letter Full Name Code Code Alanine Ala A Arginine Arg RAsparagine Asn N Aspartic Acid Asp D Cysteine Cys C Cystine Cys-Cys C-CGlutamic Acid Glu E Glutamine Gln Q Glycine Gly G Histidine His HIsoleucine Ile I Leucine Leu L Lysine Lys K Methionine Met MPhenylalanine Phe F Proline Pro P Serine Ser S Threonine Thr TTryptophan Trp W Tyrosine Tyr Y Valine Val V

The term “lower”, when used in reference to a chemical structure,describes a group containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

The term “alkyl”, by itself or as part of another substituent means,unless otherwise stated, a straight, branched or cyclic hydrocarbonhaving the number of carbon atoms designated (i.e. C₁-C₆ means one tosix carbons). Examples include: methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl,isobutyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, neopentyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl andcyclopropylmethyl. Most preferred is (C₁-C₃) alkyl, particularly ethyl,methyl and isopropyl.

The term “alkylene”, by itself or as part of another substituent means,unless otherwise stated, a straight, branched or cyclic chainhydrocarbon having two substitution sites, e. g., methylene (—CH₂—),ethylene (—CH₂CH₂—), isopropylene (—C(CH₃)═CH—), etc.

The term “aryl”, employed alone or in combination with other terms,means, unless otherwise stated, a carbocyclic structure, with or withoutsaturation, containing one or more rings (typically one, two or threerings) wherein said rings may be attached together in a pendant manner,such as a biphenyl, or may be fused, such as naphthalene. Examplesinclude phenyl, anthracyl, and naphthyl. The structure may be optionallysubstituted with one or more substituents, independently selected fromhalogen; (C₁-C₆)alkyl; (C₁-C₆)alkenyl; (C₁-C₆)alkoxy; OH; NO₂; C≡NT;C(═O)O(C₁-C₃)alkyl; (C₂-C₆)alkylene-OR²; phosphonato; NR² ₂;NHC(═O)(C₁-C₆)alkyl; sulfamyl; carbamyl; OC(═O)(C₁-C₃)alkyl;O(C₂-C₆)alkylene-N((C₁-C₆)alkyl)₂; and (C₁-C₃)perfluoroalkyl.

The term “arylloweralkyl” means a functional group wherein an aryl groupis attached to a lower alkylene group, e.g., —CH₂CH₂-phenyl.

The term “alkoxy” employed alone or in combination with other termsmeans, unless otherwise stated, an alkyl group or an alkyl groupcontaining a substituent such as a hydroxyl group, having the designatednumber of carbon atoms connected to the rest of the molecule via anoxygen atom, such as, for example, —OCH(OH)—, —OCH₂OH, methoxy (—OCH₃),ethoxy (—OCH₂CH₃), 1-propoxy (—OCH₂CH₂CH₃), 2-propoxy (isopropoxy),butoxy (—OCH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃), pentoxy (—OCH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃), and the higherhomologs and isomers.

The term “acyl” means a functional group of the general formula—C(═O)—R, wherein —R is hydrogen, alkyl, amino or alkoxy. Examplesinclude acetyl (—C(═O)CH₃), propionyl (—C(═O)CH₂CH₃), benzoyl(—C(═O)C₆H₅), phenylacetyl (C(═O)CH₂C₆H₅), carboethoxy (—CO₂CH₂CH₃), anddimethylcarbamoyl (C(═O)N(CH₃)₂).

The terms “halo” or “halogen” by themselves or as part of anothersubstituent mean, unless otherwise stated, a fluorine, chlorine,bromine, or iodine atom.

The term “heterocycle” or “heterocyclyl” or “heterocyclic” by itself oras part of another sub stituent means, unless otherwise stated, asaturated or unsaturated, stable, mono or multicyclic ring systemcomprising carbon atoms and at least one heteroatom selected from thegroup comprising N, O, and S, and wherein the nitrogen and sulfurheteroatoms may be optionally oxidized, and the nitrogen atom may beoptionally quaternized. Examples include pyridine, pyrrole, imidazole,benzimidazole, phthalein, pyridenyl, pyranyl, furanyl, thiazole,thiophene, oxazole, pyrazole, 3-pyrroline, pyrrolidene, pyrimidine,purine, quinoline, isoquinoline, carbazole, etc. Where substitution willresult in a stable compounds, the structure may be optionallysubstituted with one or more substituents, independently selected fromhalogen; (C₁-C₆)alkyl; (C₁-C₆)alkenyl; (C₁-C₆)alkoxy; OH; NO₂; C≡N;C(═O)O(C₁-C₃)alkyl; (C₂-C₆)alkylene-OR²; phosphonato; NR² ₂;NHC(═O)(C₁-C₆)alkyl; sulfamyl; carbamyl; OC(═O)(C₁-C₃)alkyl;O(C₂-C₆)alkylene-N((C₁-C₆)alkyl)₂; and (C₁-C₃)perfluoroalkyl.

The term “amphipathic lipid” means a lipid molecule having a polar endand a non-polar end.

A “complexing agent” is a compound capable of forming a water insolublecoordination complex with a metal, e.g. a salt of chromium, zirconium,etc., that is substantially insoluble in water and soluble in organicsolvents.

“Aqueous media” means media comprising water or media comprising watercontaining at least one buffer or salt.

The terms “associated,” or “associated with” when used in reference to acomposition or constituent of a composition of the invention, means thatthe referenced material is incorporated (or intercalated) into, or onthe surface of, or within a composition or a constituent of acomposition of the present invention.

The term “insulin” refers to natural or recombinant forms of insulin,and derivatives of the aforementioned insulins. Examples of insulininclude, but are not limited to insulin lispro, insulin aspart, regularinsulin, insulin glargine, insulin zinc, human insulin zinc extended,isophane insulin, human buffered regular insulin, insulin glulisine,recombinant human regular insulin, ultralente insulin, humulin NPHinsulin, and recombinant human insulin isophane. Also included areanimal insulins, such as bovine or porcine insulin.

The terms “glargine” and “glargine insulin” both refer to a recombinanthuman insulin analog which differs from human insulin in that the aminoacid asparagine at position A21 is replaced by glycine and two argininesare added to the C-terminus of the B-chain. Chemically, it is21A-Gly-30Ba-L-Arg-30Bb-L-Arg-human insulin and has the empiricalformula C₂₆₇H₄₀₄N₇₂O₇₈S₆ and a molecular weight of 6063.

The term “recombinant human insulin isophane” refers to a human insulinthat has been treated with protamine.

The term “bioavailability” refers to a measurement of the rate andextent that a pharmaceutical agent, such as, but not limited to,insulin, reaches the systemic circulation and is available at its siteof action.

As used herein, to “treat” means reducing the frequency with whichsymptoms of a disease, disorder, or adverse condition, and the like, areexperienced by a patient.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” means achemical composition with which the active ingredient may be combinedand which, following the combination, can be used to administer theactive ingredient to a subject.

The term “lipid” or “lipids” means an organic compound characterized byits preference for non-polar aprotic organic solvents. A lipid may ormay not possess an alkyl tail. Lipids according to the present inventioninclude, but are not limited to, the class of compounds known in the artas phospholipids, cholesterols, and dialkyl phosphates.

As used herein, “cholesterol” means the compound and all derivatives andanalogs of the compound:

As used herein, “particle” comprises an agglomeration of multiple unitsof one or more lipids.

Description

A composition of the present invention is comprised of gelatin and oneor more constituents wherein said constituents include liposomes,liposome fragments, and lipid particles.

Traditionally, liposome, liposome fragments, and lipid particlescomprised of amphipathic materials have been limited to a lower sizedistribution of about 40 nanometers. This limit was believed to be afunction of the collective sizes of the constituent lipids(phospholipids, cholesterols, dialkylphosphates, etc.) that constitutedthe membrane structure.

The constituents of a composition of the present invention, however,demonstrate heretofore unobserved sizing and size elasticity.Specifically, constituents of the compositions of the present invention,exist in a dynamic equilibrium in aqueous media wherein theconstituents, on average, fluctuate in size from about 6 nanometers toabout 60 nanometers in diameter. At any given time, anywhere from about5% to about 50% of the constituents exhibit an average diameter of about20 nanometers or less. Due to the nearly constant fluctuations in sizes,the constituents of the compositions of the present invention cannot bephysically separated by traditional fractionating means to form discretepopulations of differently sized structures. The constituents of acomposition of the invention may be, but are not limited to, a liposome,a liposome fragment, and a lipid particle.

The constituents of the composition of the present invention mayassociate with one or more therapeutic agents or diagnostic agents.Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believedthat constituents having diameters of 20 nanometers or less aresufficiently small to pass through intercellular gaps, thus enablingtransport of the associated therapeutic agent or diagnostic agent fromthe lumen of the gut into the portal blood.

The associated therapeutic agents or diagnostic agents may be boundcovalently or noncovalently to one or more constituents of thecomposition of the present invention. In embodiments of the inventionwherein the associated therapeutic or diagnostic agents are boundcovalently, the associated therapeutic agent or diagnostic agent may bebound to a chemical group that can be functionalized. Examples offunctionalizable groups include, but are not limited to, hydroxy, amino,carboxy, and amido groups. Examples of therapeutic and diagnostic agentsthat may be covalently bound to a constituent of a composition of thepresent invention include peptides, various small molecules, nucleicacids, DNA or RNA sequences, and a variety of monoclonal antibodies andglycolipids that act as therapeutic agents, and in addition, otherlarger proteins.

Alternatively, and more preferably, a constituent of a composition ofthe invention, may associate with the aforementioned diagnostic ortherapeutic agents via non-covalent interactions. Non-covalentinteractions enable compatibility of a constituent of the composition ofthe present invention with a wide variety of diagnostic and therapeuticagents.

Lipids

A constituent of a composition of the present invention comprises one ormore lipid components and an optional targeting agent. An embodimentcomprising multiple units of a single lipid component is referred toherein as a “lipid particle.” An embodiment comprising two or moredifferent lipid components and an optional targeting agent is classifiedas a liposome or liposome fragment, depending upon the nature of theresulting structure.

Lipid components of the present invention are selected from the groupconsisting of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine,1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, cholesterol, cholesterololeate, dihexadecyl phosphate, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(succinyl),1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (sodium salt),triethylammonium 2,3-diacetoxypropyl2-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)ethyl phosphate and derivatives thereof. Representativestructures are presented in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Common Name Chemical Name Structure 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3- phospocholine 2,3- bis(stearoyloxy)propyl2-(trimethylammonio) ethyl phosphate

1,2-dipalmitoyl- sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine 2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)propyl 2-(trimethylammonio) ethyl phosphate

1,2-dimyristoyl- sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine 2,3-bis (tetradecanoyloxy)propyl 2- (trimethylammonio) ethyl phosphate

Cholesterol 10,13-dimethyl-17- (6-methylheptan-2-yl)-2,3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,13, 14,15,16,17- tetradecahydro-1H- cyclopenta[a]phenanthren- 3-ol

By way of non-limiting examples, the constituents of a composition ofthe present invention may be formed from lipid components mixed inaccordance with the following: approximately 61 mole percent 1,2distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, approximately 22 mole percentdihexadecyl phosphate, and approximately 16 mole percent cholesterol. Inembodiments wherein a constituent incorporates a targeting agent, theabove noted mixture may further include from about 1 to about 2 molepercent of at least one targeting agent.

Preparation

Generally, the constituents of a composition of the present inventionare formed when at least one lipid component and optional targetingagent are homogenized in an aqueous media via microfluidization or otherprocess involving cavitation.

In an embodiment of the invention, the lipid component(s) and optionaltargeting agent(s) may be homogenized in 18 mM phosphate buffer at a pHof about 6.0 to a pH of about 8.0. Lipid component concentration in thephosphate buffer may range from about 10 to about 200 mg/ml and any andall whole and partial integers therebetween. In one embodiment, thelipid component concentration is about 30 to about 150 mg/ml. In morepreferred embodiment, the lipid component concentration is about 15 toabout 50 mg/ml. In a most preferred embodiment, the lipid componentconcentration is about 28-30 mg/ml.

Homogenization of the aqueous media, lipid component(s), and optionaltargeting agent may be accomplished via treatment in a device suitablefor homogenization. Examples of suitable devices include, but are notlimited to, a Polytron® System PT 6100, an M-110-EH microfluidizer, anultrasonic sonicator, a high pressure membrane filtration apparatus, anda homogenizer extruder.

In instances where a microfluidizer is used, the microfluidizer ispreferably operated at a temperature that is greater than the highesttransition temperature of a lipid component and most preferably at atemperature greater than about 75° C. Thus, the elevated temperatureallows any acyl and alkyl chains present in the lipid component(s) tomove fluidly as well as conform to and associate with neighboringhydrocarbon moieties. These non-covalent associations directly result inthe formation of a constituent of a composition of the presentinvention.

For the microfluidization process, up to about five independent passesare required at 9000 psig in order to achieve dynamic constituent sizingwith some constituents possessing radii of less than 20 nanometers.Constituent analysis data generated by a Coulter N-4 Plus Sub-MicronParticle Size Analyzer is shown in FIG. 9 and represents 10 repeatedsize analyses on the same sample as it remained stationary in theCoulter N-4 Plus Sub-Micron Particle Size Analyzer. This datademonstrates the dynamic nature of constituent sizing and the fluidnature of the interactions between the constituents of the compositionof the present invention in aqueous media.

After microfluidization, the resulting constituents may be sterilefiltered through a 0.8 micron to 0.2 micron gang Supor™ membrane.

During the process of sub-micron particle formation, hydrogen bonding,ionic bonding, van der Waal's interactions, dipolar interactions,ion-dipole interactions and hydrophobic associations dictate the mannerin which the constituents of a composition of the present inventionassemble. While not wishing to be bound by any one particular theory, itis believed that the interaction of all of these forces, to varyingextents, under the conditions noted above, lead to the dynamically sizedconstituents of the present invention.

Incorporation of a Targeting Agent

In certain embodiments, a constituent of the present invention mayoptionally comprise a targeting agent. Targeting agents alter aconstituent's bio-distribution and further enhance the efficacy of anassociated therapeutic agent. For example, a constituent of acomposition of the present invention may incorporate one or moretargeting agents that act to target the constituent to a specificcellular or extracellular receptor. Alternatively, by way of anon-limiting example, the targeting agent may mask the constituent fromreticuloendothelial (microphage) recognition.

In one embodiment, a targeting agent facilitates delivery of insulin tothe liver to control post-prandial glycogen storage and encompasses aclass of molecules referred to as “hepatocyte target molecule” (HTM).HTM examples include biotin derived targeting agents such as1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(biotinyl) and metalderived targeting agents such aspoly[Cr-bis(N-2,6-diisopropylphenylcarbamoylmethyl iminodiacetic acid)].Metal-derived targeting agents and biotin derived targeting agents arediscussed below and are fully described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,169,410 and4,603,044; PCT application PCT/US06/19119; and U.S. patent applicationSer. Nos. 11/384,728, and 11/384,659. Additional examples ofbiotin-derived targeting agents are disclosed in Table 5.

When the targeting agent comprises biotin, iminobiotin, carboxybiotin,biocytin, or iminobiocytin, the biotin, iminobiotin, carboxybiotin,biocytin, or iminobiocytin molecules may be bound via an amide bond tothe nitrogen of a phospholipid molecule such as1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine. The compounds maylikewise be bound to a molecule such as cholesterol through an esterlinkage. In the case of biocytin and iminobiocytin, the compounds may bebound to benzoyl thioacetyl triglycine via an amide bond between theterminal nitrogen of iminiobiocytin and the terminal carbonyl of benzoylthioacetyl triglycine. Alternative bond connectivities to thosedescribed above are possible and considered to be within the scope ofthe present invention.

TABLE 5 1 N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) biotin 2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl 5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H- thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanoate

2 sulfo-NHS-biotin sodium 2,5-dioxo-3- (trioxidanylthio)pyrrolidin-1-yl5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro- 1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanoate

3 N-hydroxysuccinimide long chain biotin 2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl 6-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H- thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)hexanoate

4 sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide long chain biotin sodium 2,5-dioxo-3-(trioxidanylthio) pyrrolidin-1-yl 6-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d] imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido) hexanoate

5 D-biotin 5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro- 1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanoic acid

6 Biocytin 2-amino-6-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2- oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanamido) hexanoic acid

7 sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide-S- S-biotin sodium 2,5-dioxo-3-(trioxidanylthio) pyrrolidin-1-yl 3-((2-(4-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d] imidazol-4-yl)butylamino)ethyl)disulfanyl)propanoate

8 biotin-BMCC 4-((2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-1H- pyrrol-1-yl)methyl)-N-(4-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H- thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)butyl) cyclohexanecarboxamide

9 biotin-HPDP 5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)- N-(6-(3-(pyridin-2-yldisulfanyl)propanamido)hexyl)pentanamide

10 iodoacetyl-LC-biotin N-(6-(2-iodoacetamido)hexyl)-5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H- thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4- yl)pentanamide

11 biotin-hydrazide 5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4- yl)pentanehydrazide

12 biotin-LC-hydrazide N-(6-hydrazinyl-6-oxohexyl)-5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H- thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanamide

13 biocytin hydrazide N-(5-amino-6-hydrazinyl-6-oxohexyl)-5-((3aS,6aR)-2- oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamide

14 biotin cadaverine N-(5-aminopentyl)-5- ((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanamide

15 Carboxybiotin (3aS,6aR)-4-(4-carboxybutyl)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4- d]imidazole-1-carboxylic acid

16 Photobiotin N-(3-((3-(4-azido-2- nitrophenylamino)propyl)(methyl)amino)propyl)-5-((3aS,6aR)-2- oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamide

17 ρ-aminobenzoyl biocytin trifluoroacetate 2-(4-aminobenzamido)-6-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H- thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)hexanoic acid 2,2,2-trifluoroacetate

18 ρ-diazobenzoyl biocytin 4-(1-carboxy-5-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno [3,4- d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)pentylcarbamoyl) benzenediazonium chloride

19 biotin DHPE G⁺ = Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, (Et₃NH)⁺ 2,3-diacetoxypropyl 2-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H- thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)ethyl phosphate

20 biotin-X-DHPE G⁺ = Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, (Et₃NH)⁺ 2,3-diacetoxypropyl2-(6-(5- ((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H- thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)hexanamido)ethyl phosphate

21 12-((biotinyl)amino)dodecanoic acid 12-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d] imidazol-4-yl) pentanamido) dodecanoicacid

22 12-((biotinyl)amino)dodecanoic acid succinimidyl ester2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl 12-(5- ((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanamido)dodecanoate

23 S-biotinyl homocysteine 4-mercapto-2-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4- d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanamido) butanoic acid

24 biocytin-X 2-amino-6-(6-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2- oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido) hexanamido)hexanoic acid

25 biocytin x-hydrazide N-(5-amino-6-hydrazinyl-6-oxohexyl)-6-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2- oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido) hexanamide

26 Biotinethylenediamine N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexxahydro-1H-thieno[3,4- d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamide

27 biotin-X 6-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2- oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido) hexanoic acid

28 biotin-X-ethylenediamide N-(2-aminoethyl)-6-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H- thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)hexanamide

29 biotin-XX hydrazide N-(6-hydrazinyl-6-oxohexyl)-6-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro- 1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)hexanamide

30 biotin-XX-SE 2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl 6-(6-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H- thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)hexanamido) hexanoate

31 biotin-XX,SSE sodium 2,5-dioxo-1-(6-(6-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H- thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)hexanamido) hexanoyloxy)pyrrolidine-3- sulfonate

32 biotin-X-cadaverine 5-(6-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d] imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)hexanamido)pentan-1-aminium 2,2,2-trifluoroacetate

33 α-(t-BOC)biocytin 2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-6-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro- 1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)hexanoic acid

34 N-(biotinyl)-N′- (iodoacetyl)ethylenediamineN-(2-(2-iodoacetamido)ethyl)-5- ((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanamide

35 DNP-X-biocytin-X-SE 2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl 2-(6-(6-(2,4-dinitrophenylamino) hexanamido)hexanamido)-6-(6-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro- 1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)hexanamido) hexanoate

36 biotin-X-hydrazide N-(6-hydrazinyl-6-oxohexyl)-5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H- thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanamide

37 norbiotinamine hydrochloride 4-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) butan-1-aminium chloride

38 3-(N-maleimidylpropionyl) biocytin 2-(3-(2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)propanamido)-6-(5- ((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanamido)hexanoic acid

39 ARP; N′-(2-(aminooxy)acetyl)-5- ((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanehydrazide

40 biotin-1-sulfoxide 5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanoic acid sulfoxide

41 biotin methyl ester methyl 5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d] imidazol-4-yl)pentanoate

42 biotin-maleimide 6-(2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-N′-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2- oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanoyl) hexanehydrazide

43 Biotin-poly(ethyleneglycol) amine aminomethyl polyethylene 5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H- thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanoate

44 (+) biotin 4-amidobenzoic acid sodium salt sodium 4-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno [3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanamido) benzoate

45 Biotin 2-N-acetylamino-2- deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside((2R,5S)-3-acetamido-4,5- dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2,3,4,5,6-pentamethyltetrahydro- 2H-pyran-2-yl)metthyl 5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H- thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanoate

46 Biotin-α-D-N-acetylneuraminide (2S,5R)-5-acetamido-4-hydroxy-3,3,4,5,6-pentamethyl-2-((5- ((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanoyloxy)methyl)-6-(1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl) tetrahydro- 2H-pyran-2-carboxylic acid

47 Biotin-α-L-fucoside ((2R,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy- 2,3,4,5,6,6-hexamethyltetrahydro-2H-pyran- 2-yl)methyl 5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4- d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanoate

48 Biotin lacto-N-bioside See end of table for name

49 Biotin-Lewis-A trisaccharide See end of table for name

50 Biotin-Lewis-Y tetrasaccharide See end of table for name

51 Biotin-α-D-mannopyranoside ((1R,4R)-2,3,4-trihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2,3,4,5- pentamethylcyclohexyl)methyl5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro- 1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanoate

52 biotin 6-O-phosopho-α-D- mannopyranoside ((2R,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-2,3,4,5,6-pentamethyl-6- (phosphonooxymethyl)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methyl 5- ((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl) pentanoate

Names of Compounds 48-50:

-   -   48.        ((2R,5S)-3-acetamido-5-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2,3,4,6-tetramethyl-4-((((2S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2,3,4,5,6-pentamethyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methoxy)methyl)        tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methyl        5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanoate        ((2R,5S)-3-acetamido-5-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2,3,4,6-tetramethyl-4-((((2S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2,3,4,5,6-pentamethyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methoxy)methyl)        tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methyl        5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanoate    -   49.        (2R,3R,5S)-5-((((2S,3S,5S)-3-acetamido-5-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2,4,6-trimethyl-4-((((2S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2,3,4,5,6-pentamethyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methoxy)        methyl)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methoxy)methyl)-3,4-dihydroxy-2,4,5,6,6-pentamethyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl        5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanoate    -   50.        (2S,5S)-3-acetamido-4-((((2R,5S)-5-((((2R,5S)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2,3,4,5,6-pentamethyl-3-((((2S,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-2,3,4,5,6,6-hexamethyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methoxy)methyl)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methoxy)        methyl)-3,4-dihydroxy-2,3,4,5,6,6-hexamethyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methoxy)methyl)-5-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2,3,4,5,6-pentamethyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl        5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanoate

Structures of iminobiotin compounds are not shown in Table 2. However,the iminobiotin structures are analogs of the biotin structure where thebiotin group is replaced by an iminobiotin group. An example is shownbelow.

In an embodiment of the invention, metal derived targeting agents may bepolymeric or monomeric. Polymeric metal derive targeting agents arefully described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,169,410. Monomeric metal derivedtargeting agents are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,044. Whetherpolymeric or monomeric, the compounds generally comprise a metal(typically purchased as an inorganic salt) that may be selected from thetransition and inner transition metals or neighbors of the transitionmetals. The transition and inner transition metals from which the metalis selected include: Sc (scandium), Y (yttrium), La (lanthanum), Ac(actinium), the actinide series; Ti (titanium), Zr (zirconium), Hf(hafnium), V (vanadium), Nb (niobium), Ta (tantalum), Cr (chromium), Mo(molybdenum), W (tungsten), Mn (manganese), Tc(technetium), Re(rhenium), Fe (iron), Co (cobalt), Ni (nickel), Ru (ruthenium), Rh(rhodium), Pd (palladium), Os (osmium), Ir (iridium), and Pt (platinum).The neighbors of the transition metals from which the metal may beselected are: Cu (copper), Ag (silver), Au (gold), Zn (zinc), Cd(cadmium), Hg (mercury), Al (aluminum), Ga (gallium), In (indium), Tl(thallium), Ge (germanium), Sn (tin), Pb (lead), Sb (antimony) and Bi(bismuth), and Po (polonium). Preferably, the metal is chromium.

Non-limiting examples of useful salts include chromium chloride (III)hexahydrate; chromium (III) fluoride tetrahydrate; chromium (III)bromide hexahydrate; zirconium (IV) citrate ammonium complex; zirconium(IV) chloride; zirconium (IV) fluoride hydrate; zirconium (IV) iodide;molybdenum (III) bromide; molybdenum (III) chloride; molybdenum (IV)sulfide; iron (III) hydrate; iron (III) phosphate tetrahydrate, iron(III) sulfate pentahydrate, and the like.

In addition to a metal, the metal derived targeting agent comprises oneor more complexing agents. A complexing agent is a compound capable offorming a water insoluble coordination complex with the preferred metal.There are several families of suitable complexing agents.

A complexing agent may be selected from the family of iminodiaceticacids of formula (1) wherein R₁ is loweralkyl, aryl, arylloweralkyl, ora heterocyclic substituent.

Suitable compounds of formula (1) include:

-   -   N-(2,6-diisopropylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(2,6-diethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(2,6-dimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(4-isopropylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(4-butylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(2,3-dimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(2,4-dimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(2,5-dimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(3,4-dimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(3-butylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(2-butylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(4-tertiary butylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(3-butoxyphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(2-hexyloxyphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(4-hexyloxyphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid;    -   Aminopyrrol iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(3-bromo-2,4,6-trimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic        acid;    -   Benzimidazole methyl iminodiacetic acid;    -   N-(3-cyano-4,5-dimethyl-2-pyrrylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic        acid;    -   N-(3-cyano-4-methyl-5-benzyl-2-pyrrylcarbamoylmethyl)        iminodiacetic acid; and    -   N-(3-cyano-4-methyl-2-pyrrylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid        and other derivatives of        N-(3-cyano-4-methyl-2-pyrrylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid        of formula (2),

-   -   wherein R₂ and R₃ are the following:

R₂ R₃ H iso-C₄H₉ H CH₂CH₂SCH₃ H CH₂C₆H₄-p-OH CH₃ CH₃ CH₃ iso-C₄H₉ CH₃CH₂CH₂SCH₃ CH₃ C₆H₅ CH₃ CH₂C₆H₅ CH₃ CH₂C₆H₄-p-OCH₃

Alternatively, the complexing agent may be selected from the family ofimino diacid derivatives of formula (3), wherein R₄, R₅, and R₆ areindependently selected at each occurrence and may be hydrogen,loweralkyl, aryl, arylloweralkyl, alkoxyloweralkyl, and heterocyclic.

Suitable compounds of formula (3) include: N′-(2-acetylnaphthyl)iminodiacetic acid (NAIDA); N′-(2-naphthylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid(NMIDA); iminodicarboxymethyl-2-naphthylketone phthalein complexone; 3(3: 7a: 12a: trihydroxy-24-norchol anyl-23-iminodiacetic acid;benzimidazole methyl iminodiacetic acid; and N-(5,pregnene-3-p-ol-2-oylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid.

The complexing agent may also be selected from the family of amino acidsof formula (4),

where R₇ is an amino acid side chain; wherein R₈ may be loweralkyl,aryl, and arylloweralkyl; and wherein R₉ is pyridoxylidene.

Suitable amino acids of the formula (4) are aliphatic amino acids,including, but not limited to: glycine, alanine, valine, leucine,isoleucine; hydroxyamino acids, including serine, and threonine;dicarboxylic amino acids and their amides, including aspartic acid,asparagine, glutamic acid, glutamine; amino acids having basicfunctions, including lysine, hydroxylysine, histidine, arginine;aromatic amino acids, including phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan,thyroxine; and sulfur-containing amino acids, including cystine andmethionine.

The complexing agent may also be selected from amino acid derivativesincluding, but not limited to (3-alanine-y-amino) butyric acid,O-diazoacetylserine (azaserine), homoserine, ornithine, citrulline,penicillamine and members of the pyridoxylidene class of compounds.Pyridoxylidene compounds include, but are not limited to: pyridoxylideneglutamate; pyridoxylidene isoleucine; pyridoxylidene phenylalanine;pyridoxylidene tryptophan; pyridoxylidene-5-methyl tryptophan;pyridoxylidene-5-hydroxytryptamine; andpyridoxylidene-5-butyltryptamine.

The complexing agent may likewise be selected from the family ofdiamines of formula (6):

wherein R₁₀ is hydrogen, loweralkyl, or aryl; R₁₁ is loweralkylene orarylloweralky; R₁₂ and R₁₃ are independently selected at each occurrenceand may be hydrogen, loweralkyl, alkyl, aryl, arylloweralkyl,acylheterocyclic, toluene, sulfonyl or tosylate.

Examples of suitable diamines of formula (6) include, but are notlimited to, ethylenediamine-N,N diacetic acid; ethylenediamine-N,N-bis(—2-hydroxy-5-bromophenyl) acetate; N′-acetylethylenediamine-N,Ndiacetic acid; N′-benzoyl ethylenediamine-N,N diacetic acid;N′-(p-toluenesulfonyl) ethylenediamine-N,N diacetic acid;N′-(p-t-butylbenzoyl) ethylenediamine-N,N diacetic acid;N′-(benzenesulfonyl) ethylenediamine-N,N diacetic acid;N′-(p-chlorobenzenesulfonyl) ethylenediamine-N,N diacetic acid;N′-(p-ethylbenzenesulfonyl ethylenediamine-N,N diacetic acid; N′-acyland N′-sulfonyl ethylenediamine-N,N diacetic acid;N′-(p-n-propylbenzenesulfonyl) ethylenediamine-N,N diacetic acid;N′-(naphthalene-2-sulfonyl) ethylenediamine-N,N diacetic acid; andN′-(2,5-dimethylbenzenesulfonyl) ethylenediamine-N,N diacetic acid.

Other, non-limiting examples of complexing compounds or agents includepenicillamine; p-mercaptoisobutyric acid; dihydrothioctic acid;6-mercaptopurine; kethoxal-bis(thiosemicarbazone); Hepatobiliary AmineComplexes, 1-hydrazinophthalazine (hydralazine); sulfonyl urea;Hepatobiliary Amino Acid Schiff Base Complexes; pyridoxylideneglutamate; pyridoxylidene isoleucine; pyridoxylidene phenylalanine;pyridoxylidene tryptophan; pyridoxylidene 5-methyl tryptophan;pyridoxylidene-5-hydroxytryptamine; pyridoxylidene-5-butyltryptamine;tetracycline; 7-carboxy-p-hydroxyquinoline; phenolphthalein; eosin Ibluish; eosin I yellowish; verograffin; 3-hydroxyl-4-formyl-pyrideneglutamic acid; Azo substituted iminodiacetic acid; hepatobiliary dyecomplexes, such as rose bengal; congo red; bromosulfophthalein;bromophenol blue; toluidine blue; and indocyanine green; hepatobiliarycontrast agents, such as iodipamide; and ioglycamic acid; bile salts,such as bilirubin; cholgycyliodohistamine; and thyroxine; hepatobiliarythio complexes, such as penicillamine; p-mercaptoisobutyric acid;dihydrothiocytic acid; 6-mercaptopurine; and kethoxal-bis(thiosemicarbazone); hepatobiliary amine complexes, such as1-hydrazinophthalazine (hydralazine); and sulfonyl urea; hepatobiliaryamino acid Schiff Base complexes, includingpyridoxylidene-5-hydroxytryptamine; andpyridoxylidene-5-butyltryptamine; hepatobiliary protein complexes, suchas protamine; ferritin; and asialo-orosomucoid; and asialo complexes,such as lactosaminated albumin; immunoglobulins, G, IgG; and hemoglobin.

Addition of Therapeutic Agents

As noted previously, in certain embodiments, one or more therapeuticagents may be associated with a constituent of a composition of thepresent invention. Examples of therapeutic agents include, but are notlimited to, insulin, interferon, erythropoietin, parathyroid hormone,serotonin, D- or L-thyroxine, calcitonin, monoclonal antibodies, as wellas other therapeutic peptides.

In certain embodiments, a therapeutic agent such as insulin isassociated with a constituent of a composition of the present invention.In one embodiment, association is achieved via addition of a lowmolarity solution of insulin to an aqueous solution of constituents. Inthis embodiment, the number of lipid molecules involved in the assemblyof the constituents far surpasses the number of molecules of insulininterlaced and/or combined either on or within the constituents'matricies. This high ratio of constituents to insulin minimizes themolecular interactions between insulin and the constituents, insuringthat the self-assembly and self-organization process of the constituentsof the composition of the present invention are not disrupted. This highratio facilitates the formation of a stable constituent/insulinassociation.

Without wishing to be bound by a particular theory, it is believed thatthe quantity of therapeutic agent(s) associated with a constituent of acomposition of the present invention appears to be a function of loadingtime and lipid concentration. As the lipid component concentration inaqueous media is increased, additional therapeutic agents associate witha constituent of a composition of the present invention. The timerequired for loading the therapeutic agent may be anywhere from severalhours to about one week.

The low concentration of therapeutic agent relative to the concentrationof the constituents of the composition of the present invention isunique among lipid particle delivery systems. Typically, liposome orliposome-like delivery systems have employed a much larger quantity oftherapeutic agent. The efficacy this embodiment of the presentcombination indicates that it is possible to utilize less therapeuticagent while still obtaining a pharmacologically desirable result in thepatient. This embodiment of the invention therefore provides anadvantageous therapeutic option.

In other embodiments the addition of a higher concentration oftherapeutic agent may be both desirable and advantageous. Theconstituent members of a composition of the present invention arecapable of associating with, and tolerating, higher molarity solutionsof any given therapeutic agent.

A diagrammatic example of an embodiment of a constituent of acomposition of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 1 . FIG. 1illustrates a constituent/HTM/insulin construct. Insulin molecules bindto the surface of the constituent via non-covalent electrostaticinteractions.

Serotonin, like insulin, may also be delivered to the liver utilizing aconstituent/HTM complex according to the invention. Serotonin actsjointly with insulin at the level of the liver to activate hepaticglucose storage during a portal (oral) glucose load. In order to achievethe desired effect, serotonin must be delivered to the liver.Non-targeted serotonin, introduced via injection or oral delivery inpharmacologically acceptable doses cannot effectively induce the desiredactivity. Therefore, an embodiment of the invention comprising aconstituent/HTM/serotonin construct provides a highly desirable deliverymechanism for this important gluco-regulatory hormone. In an embodimentof the invention designed for the delivery of serotonin, the lipidcomponents selected to form the constituents of the composition includeapproximately 62 mole percent,1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, approximately 22 molepercent dihexadecyl phosphate, approximately 16 mole percent cholesteroland about 1 mole percent of a targeting agent.

Calcitonin is a hormone that regulates bone metabolism. Due to the highprevalence of diseases such as osteoporosis, an oral formulation of thishormone is highly desireable. Presently calcitonin is only deliverablevia injection. In an embodiment of the invention designed for thedelivery of calcitonin, the lipid components selected to form theconstituents of the composition including calcitonin includeapproximately 62 mole percent,1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, approximately 22 molepercent dihexadecyl phosphate, and approximately 16 mole percentcholesterol.

Stability

Although constituent members of a composition of the present inventionare formulated in aqueous media, the constituent members of thecomposition do not exhibit long term stability in water. Specifically,water aids hydrolysis of any acyl chains present in any of the lipidcomponents of the compositional constituents. The aqueous environmentalso allows for the ready oxidation of any unsaturated acyl chainspresent in any of the lipid components. In a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the constituents of the composition of the presentinvention may be protected for long term storage via interaction with aproteoglycan such as a modified collagen, known generically as drygranulated gelatin. Dry granulated gelatin, when contacted with anaqueous suspension of constituents, reacts with water, stabilizes theconstituents, and forms a composition of the present invention.

The reaction of dried granulated gelatin with an aqueous suspension ofconstituents of a composition of the present invention results in asemi-solid colloidal gel that shields the constituents from directinteraction with water. Any water not associated with gelatin is slowlyevaporated via refrigerated storage at about 2° to about 8° C. Thisresults in a pellet like “dry” constituent/gelatin complex which is thecomposition of the invention. In the composition, the constituentelements are partially dehydrated in a reversible manner and sequesteredby the proteinaceous lattice of dry gelatin. This sequestration isenabled by structured water, structured lipid and structured gelatin allineracting through hydrogen bonding, ionic bonding, van der Waal'sinteractions, and hydrophobic bonding between the lipid components,water, and protein structures, i.e., insulin. The resulting “dry” pelletis stable for long term storage because the activity of water has beenmitigated. These pellets can be further processed to a granulated orfree-flowing powder for final capsule filling or tabletting, whilemaintaining their stability.

Upon oral administration to a patient, the “dry” pellet becomes hydratedand once again assumes a semi-solid colloidal gel state. Upon furtherexposure to the gastric environment, the gel becomes liquid as gelatinis solubilized. Once the gelatin is completely solubilized, theconstituent members of the composition of the invention rehydrate,resulting in the formation of a new suspension of constituents withinthe gastric environment. The reconstituted constituents may then beabsorbed into the portal blood flow.

It is important to realize that the role of gelatin in this aspect ofthe invention is as an active stabilizer of the composition and not aninert filler as is commonly found in oral formulations of many otherpharmaceutical compositions. That said, the additional use of gelatin asan inert filler in addition to the aforementioned use is alsocontemplated.

Formulations

A formulation of a composition of the invention and therapeutic agent(with or without the targeting agent)—hereinafter “composition”—for oraladministration may be prepared, packaged, or sold in the form of adiscrete solid dose unit including, but not limited to, a tablet, a hardor soft capsule, a cachet, a troche, or a lozenge, each containing apredetermined amount of the active ingredient. Other formulationssuitable for oral administration include, but are not limited to, apowdered or granular formulation, aqueous suspensions, or emulsions.

A tablet comprising the composition of the present invention, forexample, be made by compressing or molding the composition optionallywith one or more additional ingredients. Compressed tablets may beprepared by compressing, in a suitable device, the composition in afree-flowing form such as a powder or granular preparation, optionallymixed with one or more of a binder, a lubricant, an excipient, a surfaceactive agent, and a dispersing agent. Molded tablets may be made bymolding, in a suitable device, the composition, a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier, and at least sufficient liquid to moisten themixture.

Pharmaceutically acceptable excipients used in the manufacture oftablets include, but are not limited to, inert diluents, granulating anddisintegrating agents, binding agents, and lubricating agents. Knowndispersing agents include, but are not limited to, potato starch andsodium starch glycollate. Known surface active agents include, but arenot limited to, sodium lauryl sulphate. Known diluents include, but arenot limited to, calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, lactose,microcrystalline cellulose, calcium phosphate, calcium hydrogenphosphate, and sodium phosphate. Known granulating and disintegratingagents include, but are not limited to, corn starch and alginic acid.Known binding agents include, but are not limited to, gelatin, acacia,pre-gelatinized maize starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. Known lubricating agents include, but are not limitedto, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, silica, and talc.

Tablets may be non-coated or they may be coated using known methods toachieve delayed disintegration in the gastrointestinal tract of asubject, thereby providing sustained release and absorption of thecomposition. By way of example, a material such as glyceryl monostearateor glyceryl distearate may be used to coat tablets. Further by way ofexample, tablets may be coated using methods described in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,256,108; 4,160,452; and 4,265,874 to form osmotically-controlledrelease tablets. Tablets may further comprise a sweetening agent, aflavoring agent, a coloring agent, a preservative, or some combinationof these in order to provide pharmaceutically elegant and palatablepreparation.

Hard capsules comprising the composition may be made using aphysiologically degradable composition, such as gelatin. Such hardcapsules comprise the active ingredient, and may further compriseadditional ingredients including, for example, an inert solid diluentsuch as calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, kaolin or celluloseacetate hydrogen phthalate.

Soft gelatin capsules comprising the composition may be made using aphysiologically degradable composition, such as gelatin.

Liquid formulations of the composition which are suitable for oraladministration may be prepared, packaged, and sold either in liquid formor in the form of a dry product intended for reconstitution with wateror another suitable vehicle prior to use, subject to the stabilitylimitations disclosed earlier.

Liquid suspensions may be prepared using conventional methods to achievesuspension of the constituents in an aqueous vehicle. Aqueous vehiclesinclude, for example, water and isotonic saline. Oily vehicles may onlybe used to the extent that such solvents are not incompatible with theconstituents of the composition of the present invention. To the extentthat an oily suspension is not incompatible with the constituents of thecomposition of the present invention, an oily suspension may furthercomprise a thickening agent.

Liquid suspensions may further comprise one or more additionalingredients to the extent that said ingredients do not disrupt thestructures of the constituents of the comoposition of the invention.Examples of additional ingredients include, but are not limited to,suspending agents, dispersing or wetting agents, emulsifying agents,demulcents, preservatives, buffers, salts, flavorings, coloring agents,and sweetening agents.

Known suspending agents include, but are not limited to, sorbitol syrup,sodium alginate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gum tragacanth, gum acacia, andcellulose derivatives such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose,methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose.

Known emulsifying agents include, but are not limited to acacia. Knownpreservatives include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, orn-propyl-para-hydroxybenzoates, ascorbic acid, and sorbic acid. Knownsweetening agents include, for example, glycerol, propylene glycol,sorbitol, sucrose, and saccharin.

Powdered and granular formulations of a pharmaceutical preparation ofthe invention may be prepared using known methods. Such formulations maybe administered directly to a subject, used, for example, to formtablets, to fill capsules, or to prepare an aqueous suspension orsolution by addition of an aqueous vehicle thereto. Each of theseformulations may further comprise one or more of dispersing or wettingagent, a suspending agent, and a preservative. Additional excipients,such as fillers and sweetening, flavoring, or coloring agents, may alsobe included in these formulations.

EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLES Experiment 1 Administration of Compositions notContaining a Targeting Agent

A composition whose constituent members were created from a mixture oflipid components comprising approximately 62 mole percent1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, approximately 22 molepercent dihexadecyl phosphate, approximately 16 mole percentcholesterol, and no targeting agent was prepared according to themicrofluidization procedure generally described herein. A known portionof the lipid component comprised ¹⁴C labeled phospholipid. Followingfiltration through a 0.2 micron filter, the average constituent size wasless than 100 nm as measured with a Coulter Sub-micron Particle SizeAnalyzer.

A 10 mg/kg body weight sample of the composition (containing 85,000 cpmof ¹⁴C radio-label) was then injected into the duodenum of ananesthetized 230 gram fasted, but otherwise normal, rat. Blood was takenfrom the portal and femoral veins at 15 and 30 minutes post-dosing forcounting (FIG. 2 ). At 30 minutes post-dosing, the rat was sacrificedand representative samples of blood, liver, and spleen were removed foranalysis (FIG. 3 ).

Labeled constituents, as measured by ¹⁴C, were found in both portal andfemoral blood of the rat. The portal blood levels of ¹⁴C labeledconstituents were higher than the femoral blood levels (FIG. 2 ). At 30minutes post-dosing, approximately 15% of the constituents that wereinjected into the gut were found in the blood. Approximately 4% of thecounts were found in the liver and about 1% were found in the spleen.Considering the relative sizes of the liver and spleen, the splenicuptake was much higher than liver uptake on a weight basis.

Experiment 2 Hepatocyte Targeting

To demonstrate the absorption of the composition from the gut, acomposition comprising insulin and constituents generated from a mixtureof lipid components comprising approximately 61 mole percent 1,2distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, approximately 22 mole percentdihexadecyl phosphate, approximately 16 mole percent cholesterol, andapproximately 1 mole percentpoly[Cr-bis(N-2,6-diisopropylphenylcarbamoylmethyl iminodiacetic acid)](wherein a known portion of the phospholipid component comprised ¹⁴Clabeled phospholipid) was prepared as recited in the general preparationdisclosed herein. Prior to dosing, the labeled composition to rats, therats were fasted from food for 24 hours and from water for 4 hours. Thefasted rats were then permitted to drink water from a graduated waterbottle containing the composition. The drinking water bottle was removedfrom the cage after 15 minutes, the amount of water ingested from thedrinking bottle was measured, and the amount of composition ingested wascalculated. The rats' blood was sampled at 15, 30, and 45 minutes andthe radiolabel in each sample was counted (FIG. 4 ). At 45 minutes therats were sacrificed and the livers were counted for radio-label (FIG. 5).

As is shown in FIG. 4 , approximately 8% of the ingested dose was foundin the rats' blood 15 minutes after the water had been removed from thecage. The quantity of constituents in the rats' blood remained constantbetween 15 and 45 minutes. Liver uptake was approximately 8% at 45minutes. Splenic uptake at 45 minutes was approximately 1% of theingested dose (FIG. 5 ). The total absorption was approximately 17%(including blood, liver, and spleen).

Experiment 3 Hepatocyte Targeting with a Composition inAlloxan-Streptozotocin Treated Mice

Mice used in the present experiment were made diabetic by administeringstreptozotocin and alloxan. The diabetic animals were then divided intotwo groups. The control group (11 mice) was orally dosed with regularinsulin. The experimental group (7 mice) was orally dosed with acomposition comprising insulin and constituents generated from a mixtureof lipid components comprising approximately 61 mole percent 1,2distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, approximately 22 mole percentdihexadecyl phosphate, approximately 16 mole percent cholesterol, andapproximately 1 mole percentpoly[Cr-bis(N-2,6-diisopropylphenylcarbamoylmethyl iminodiacetic acid)](wherein a known portion of the phospholipid component comprised ¹⁴Clabeled phospholipid). Dosing was accomplished utilizing the waterbottle dosing method described in Experiment 2.

After being made diabetic, rats in both groups were treated identicallyover a 7 day period and fed with plain food and plain water. Followingthis 7 day period, rats in the control group were treated for anadditional 7 day experimental period with food and regular insulin inthe available drinking water at 0.1 U/ml. Over the same 7 dayexperimental period, the experimental group was fed regular food withthe composition of the invention available in the drinking water at 0.1U/ml. At the end of each 7-day period, blood glucose was measured in atail-vein sample of blood by a Beckman Blood Glucose Analyzer.

The pharmacologic efficacy of orally administered insulin in the groupdosed with the above described composition is shown in FIG. 6 . Micereceiving the composition had a statistically significant reduction inblood glucose on day seven (p<0.01) compared to mice receiving regularinsulin, whose blood glucose was not altered at all.

Example 4 In Vivo Administration of Serotonin

The hepatic action of a composition comprising serotonin andconstituents generated from a mixture of lipid components comprisingapproximately 61 mole percent 1,2distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, approximately 22 mole percentdihexadecyl phosphate, approximately 16 mole percent cholesterol, and 1mole percent of poly[Cr-bis(N-2,6-diisopropylphenylcarbamoylmethyliminodiacetic acid)] was demonstrated in a type 2 diabetic dog (truncalvagotomy). The dog was fasted, and then anesthetized. Blood samplingcatheters were placed in the hepatic and portal veins to enablesimultaneous blood sampling. Glucose was infused into the portal systemat a rate of 0.5 g/kg/hour. Next, the above described composition wasadministered intraduodenally in a single dose of 30 μg/kg body weight.Results are depicted in FIG. 7 and demonstrate that serotonin (alsoreferred to as 5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT), administeredintraduodenally as a composition of the invention is effective at lowdoses in converting a type 2 diabetic dog from hepatic glucose output touptake during a portal glucose load.

Example 5 In Vivo Administration of Calcitonin

Normal, fasted, control rats were given a dose of salmon calcitonin viasubcutaneous injection such that an initial 10% reduction in bloodcalcium was observed. Blood calcium levels were then measured for sixhours post injection. An experimental group of rats was given the sameeffective dose of calcitonin by oral gavage, in the form of acomposition comprising calcitonin and constituents generated from amixture of lipid components comprising approximately 61 mole percent 1,2distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, approximately 22 mole percentdihexadecyl phosphate, and approximately 16 mole percent cholesterol.Blood calcium levels were followed for six hours (FIG. 8 ). A bloodcalcium reduction of up to 20% was observed in the non-control rats.This difference was statistically significant (FIG. 8 ).

Example 6 Clinical Trial with Targeted Insulin in Type 2 DiabetesMellitus Subjects

Capsules containing a composition of the invention were prepared. Thecomposition comprised insulin as the therapeutic agent, gelatin, andconstituents generated from a mixture of lipid components comprisingapproximately 61 mole percent 1,2distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, approximately 22 mole percentdihexadecyl phosphate, approximately 16 mole percent cholesterol, andabout 1 mole percent of the sodium salt of Biotin-HDPE. Each capsulecontained 2 U of insulin.

Six well characterized Type 2 diabetes patients participated in thecontrolled study. The patients were maintained on their customary Type 2oral anti-diabetes therapy. Study participants were also given eitherplacebo capsules or the above described capsules 30 minutes before a 60gram carbohydrate meal at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Blood sampleswere drawn at frequent intervals over a 13 hour period and theIncremental Area Under the Curve for the blood glucose values wascalculated for each subject.

At 0.1 U/kg body weight/meal, the same dose that is frequently used withsubcutaneous injection of insulin at a given meal, a statisticallysignificant reduction in AUC for each of the three meals was observed.FIG. 10 depicts the results of the trial in graphical format.

Example 7 Insulin Concentration

Insulin U-500 contains 500 units of insulin/ml=0.5 units/1 μl

-   -   Add 3.36 ml of U-500 insulin to 70 ml of constituent suspension        in 18 mM phosphate buffer@pH 7.01.    -   (3,360 μl)*(0.5 units of insulin/μl)=1,680 units of insulin        total in 73.36 ml    -   (1,680 units of insulin)/(73.36 ml)=22.9 units of        insulin/ml—or—34.35 units of insulin/1.5 ml    -   Load insulin for 21 hours;    -   Post loading, chromatograph 1.5 ml of sample over a 1.5 cm×25 cm        column with Sepharose CL-6B gel equilibrated with 18 mM        phosphate buffer @pH 7.01    -   0% of free insulin recovered from column; The recovery of 0% of        the total loaded insulin implies that 100% of the total “loaded”        insulin is associated with a constituent of the composition.        34.35 units of insulin×100%=34.35 units of insulin bound or        associated with the constituents of the invention.        FIG. 11 depicts the above described chromatography. A trace        showing the elution time of free insulin is included for        purposes of comparison. As can be seen from the chromatogram,        insulin is associated with the constituents of the invention and        no free insulin is in solution. A preservative included with        insulin does not associate with the constituents of the        composition of the invention and is visible in the chromatogram.

The disclosures of each and every patent, patent application, andpublication cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

While this invention has been disclosed with reference to specificembodiments, it is apparent that other embodiments and variations ofthis invention may be devised by others skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope of the invention. The appendedclaims are intended to be construed to include all such embodiments andequivalent variations.

What is claimed is:
 1. An orally bioavailable composition comprisingconstituents comprising lipid components; wherein the lipid componentscomprise dihexadecyl phosphate,1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and cholesterol; wherein thecomposition further comprises serotonin and a biotin-derived targetingagent; wherein the biotin-derived targeting agent comprises at least oneselected from the group consisting of biotin DHPE and biotin-X-DHPE;wherein a percentage ranging from 5% to 50% of the constituents exhibitsan average diameter equal to or lower than 20 nm; and, wherein thecomposition is orally bioavailable in a mammal.
 2. The composition ofclaim 1, wherein the constituents have an average diameter ranging fromabout 6 nm to about 60 nm.
 3. The composition of claim 1, which furthercomprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting ofMPB-PE, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine,1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, cholesterol oleate,1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(succinyl),1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (sodium salt),and triethylammonium 2,3-diacetoxypropyl2-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)ethyl phosphate.
 4. The composition of claim 1, whichfurther comprises at least one additional biotin-derived targeting agentselected from the group consisting of N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) biotin;sulfo-NHS-biotin; N-hydroxysuccinimide long chain biotin;sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide long chain biotin; D-biotin; biocytin;sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide-S-S-biotin; biotin-BMCC; biotin-HPDP;iodoacetyl-LC-biotin; biotin-hydrazide; biotin-LC-hydrazide; biocytinhydrazide; biotin cadaverine; carboxybiotin; photobiotin; ρ-aminobenzoylbiocytin trifluoroacetate; ρ-diazobenzoyl biocytin;12-((biotinyl)amino)dodecanoic acid; 12-((biotinyl)amino)dodecanoic acidsuccinimidyl ester; S-biotinyl homocysteine; biocytin-X; biocytinx-hydrazide; biotinethylenediamine; biotin-XL; biotin-X-ethylenediamine;biotin-XX hydrazide; biotin-XX-SE; biotin-XX, SSE; biotin-X-cadaverine;α-(t-BOC)biocytin; N-(biotinyl)-N′-(iodoacetyl) ethylenediamine;DNP-X-biocytin-X-SE; biotin-X-hydrazide; norbiotinamine hydrochloride;3-(N-maleimidylpropionyl)biocytin; ARP; biotin-1-sulfoxide; biotinmethyl ester; biotin-maleimide; biotin-poly(ethyleneglycol)amine; (+)biotin 4-amidobenzoic acid sodium salt; Biotin2-N-acetylamino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside;Biotin-α-D-N-acetylneuraminide; Biotin-α-L-fucoside; Biotinlacto-N-bioside; Biotin-Lewis-A trisaccharide; Biotin-Lewis-Ytetrasaccharide; Biotin-α-D-mannopyranoside; biotin6-O-phospho-α-D-mannopyranoside; and1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(biotinyl),iminobiotin derivatives of the aforementioned compounds, and anymixtures thereof.
 5. The composition of claim 1, further comprisinggelatin.
 6. A method of making the orally bioavailable composition ofclaim 1, the method comprising the steps of: a. mixing the lipidcomponents and the biotin-derived targeting agent in aqueous media toform a first mixture; and, b. adding the serotonin to the first mixtureto form a second mixture.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the methodfurther comprises the steps of: c. adding the second mixture to gelatinto form a gelatin-associated mixture; and d. drying thegelatin-associated mixture.
 8. A method of treating diabetes in amammal, the method comprising administering to the mammal in needthereof a therapeutically effective amount of an orally bioavailablecomposition comprising constituents comprising lipid components; whereinthe lipid components comprise dihexadecyl phosphate, 1,2distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and cholesterol; wherein thecomposition further comprises serotonin and a biotin-derived targetingagent; wherein the biotin-derived targeting agent comprises at least oneselected from the group consisting of biotin DHPE and biotin-X-DHPE;wherein a percentage ranging from 5% to 50% of the constituents exhibitsan average diameter equal to or lower than 20 nanometers; and, whereinthe composition is orally bioavailable in a mammal.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the constituents have an average diameter size rangingfrom about 6 nm to about 60 nm.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein thecomposition further comprises gelatin.
 11. The method of claim 8,wherein the composition comprises one or more compounds selected fromthe group consisting of MPB-PE,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine,1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, cholesterol oleate,1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate,1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(succinyl),1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (sodium salt),and triethylammonium 2,3-diacetoxypropyl2-(5-((3aS,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanamido)ethyl phosphate.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein thecomposition further comprises at least one additional biotin-derivedtargeting agent selected from the group consisting ofN-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) biotin; sulfo-NHS-biotin;N-hydroxysuccinimide long chain biotin; sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide longchain biotin; D-biotin; biocytin; sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide-S-S-biotin;biotin-BMCC; biotin-HPDP; iodoacetyl-LC-biotin; biotin-hydrazide;biotin-LC-hydrazide; biocytin hydrazide; biotin cadaverine;carboxybiotin; photobiotin; ρ-aminobenzoyl biocytin trifluoroacetate;ρ-diazobenzoyl biocytin; 12-((biotinyl)amino)dodecanoic acid;12-((biotinyl)amino)dodecanoic acid succinimidyl ester; S-biotinylhomocysteine; biocytin-X; biocytin x-hydrazide; biotinethylenediamine;biotin-XL; biotin-X-ethylenediamine; biotin-XX hydrazide; biotin-XX-SE;biotin-XX, SSE; biotin-X-cadaverine; α-(t-BOC)biocytin;N-(biotinyl)-N′-(iodoacetyl) ethylenediamine; DNP-X-biocytin-X-SE;biotin-X-hydrazide; norbiotinamine hydrochloride;3-(N-maleimidylpropionyl)biocytin; ARP; biotin-1-sulfoxide; biotinmethyl ester; biotin-maleimide; biotin-poly(ethyleneglycol)amine; (+)biotin 4-amidobenzoic acid sodium salt; Biotin2-N-acetylamino-2-deoxy-13-D-glucopyranoside;Biotin-α-D-N-acetylneuraminide; Biotin-α-L-fucoside; Biotinlacto-N-bioside; Biotin-Lewis-A trisaccharide; Biotin-Lewis-Ytetrasaccharide; Biotin-α-D-mannopyranoside; biotin6-O-phospho-α-D-mannopyranoside; and1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(biotinyl),iminobiotin derivatives of the aforementioned compounds, and anymixtures thereof.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the diabetes isType 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes.
 14. A kit comprising an orallybioavailable composition comprising constituents comprising lipidcomponents, wherein the lipid components comprise dihexadecyl phosphate,1,2 distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and cholesterol, thecomposition further comprising serotonin and a biotin-derived targetingagent, wherein the biotin-derived targeting agent comprises at least oneselected from the group consisting of biotin DHPE and biotin-X-DHPE,wherein a percentage ranging from 5% to 50% of the constituents exhibitsan average diameter equal to or lower than 20 nm and wherein thecomposition is orally bioavailable in a mammal; and instructionalmaterial for administration of the composition to a mammal.
 15. The kitof claim 14, wherein the constituents have an average diameter sizeranging from about 6 nm to about 60 nm.
 16. The kit of claim 14, whereinthe composition further comprises at least one additional biotin-derivedtargeting agent selected from the group consisting ofN-hydroxysuccinimide (NETS) biotin; sulfo-NHS-biotin;N-hydroxysuccinimide long chain biotin; sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide longchain biotin; D-biotin; biocytin; sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide-S-S-biotin;biotin-BMCC; biotin-HPDP; iodoacetyl-LC-biotin; biotin-hydrazide;biotin-LC-hydrazide; biocytin hydrazide; biotin cadaverine;carboxybiotin; photobiotin; ρ-aminobenzoyl biocytin trifluoroacetate;ρ-diazobenzoyl biocytin; 12-((biotinyl)amino)dodecanoic acid;12-((biotinyl)amino)dodecanoic acid succinimidyl ester; S-biotinylhomocysteine; biocytin-X; biocytin x-hydrazide; biotinethylenediamine;biotin-XL; biotin-X-ethylenediamine; biotin-XX hydrazide; biotin-XX-SE;biotin-XX, SSE; biotin-X-cadaverine; α-(t-BOC)biocytin;N-(biotinyl)-N′-(iodoacetyl) ethylenediamine; DNP-X-biocytin-X-SE;biotin-X-hydrazide; norbiotinamine hydrochloride;3-(N-maleimidylpropionyl)biocytin; ARP; biotin-1-sulfoxide; biotinmethyl ester; biotin-maleimide; biotin-poly(ethyleneglycol)amine; (+)biotin 4-amidobenzoic acid sodium salt; Biotin2-N-acetylamino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside;Biotin-α-D-N-acetylneuraminide; Biotin-α-L-fucoside; Biotinlacto-N-bioside; Biotin-Lewis-A trisaccharide; Biotin-Lewis-Ytetrasaccharide; Biotin-α-D-mannopyranoside; biotin6-O-phospho-α-D-mannopyranoside; and1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(biotinyl),iminobiotin derivatives of the aforementioned compounds, and anymixtures thereof.
 17. The kit of claim 14, wherein the compositionfurther comprises gelatin.